THE Minister of Defence Geoffrey Mwamba has been roundly condemned for issuing an assassination ploy statement calculated to alarm and frighten people of Zambia of a nonexistent threat against President Michael Sata.

MMD president Dr. Nevers Mumba says it is irresponsible for the Minister of Defence Geoffrey Mwamba to issue alarming statements of an assassination attempt that can create despondency and anarchy in the nation.

And former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti says it is shocking for the Minister of Defence to continue issuing statements that had the capacity to cause alarm in the nation.

Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director Mc Donald Chipenzi has urged President Sata to fire ministers who were plotting to secretly succeed him

Mr. Chipenzi said that President Sata should act on some of his Cabinet members who were secretly plotting to succeed him at the expense of service delivery.

Commenting on Mr. Mwamba’s statement that he had information of some people planning to kill President Michael Sata and that police were investigating the matter, Dr. Mumba said it was highly irresponsible for Defence Minister to create an atmosphere which was not conducive to peace.

He said that Mr Mwamba as minister was sending wrong and alarming signals to the nation that some people were planning to kill President Sata.

Dr. Mumba said it was irresponsible for Mr. Mwamba to issue statements which were above his jurisdiction and alarming.

He said Mr. Mwamba should be extremely cautious and not issue unsubstantiated statement.

“He must be extremely cautious and not slippery in the manner he is issuing such statements. This causes alarm in the nation and as a party we condemn that. We shall be issuing a statement soon,” he said.

And Mr. Mulongoti said it was surprising that such information was being issued by the Minister of Defence instead of the Minister of Home Affairs.

“He is responsible for the boundary of the nation and not the internal security of the nation. So it is a worrying it is sending alarm bells to the nation,” he said.

He urged the Minister of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu to take up the matter than to allow the Minister of Defence frighten the people of Zambia by issuing alarming statements which were difficult to substantiate.

“In the first place it is not correct for him to issue such statements. Even if the matter is true or not. It should be handled by the right authority which can issue such statemenst to the people of Zambia. There is need for decency in government. He should know that he presides over military people who are armed.”